ACES & Pitkin County North Star Birding 07/20/26

This outing is one of a handful of opportunities each year when Pitkin County Open Space offers an opportunity to experience the “other side” of the river at North Star Preserve. Normally off-limits to human visitors, this part of the preserve is managed for wildlife habitat and is an important nursery for breeding birds and many other animals. We began this outing with an exciting sighting of a black bear and her two cubs across the valley. Our route took us on a loop hike through a patchwork of varied habitats on this special landscape, a rare, large flat area in a mountain valley with a lot of topography. Highlights included sapsucker wells in a willow clump where woodpeckers and hummingbirds were actively feeding, a Virginia rail and several Wilson’s snipes foraging in a small stream, an abundance of various sparrows, and a sora that foraged in the open at the main pond. It was a treat to get to wander around within the preserve and see fresh signs of bear and elk foraging, watch a coyote hunting, and observe the many birds we encountered. While many sparrows were confusing and difficult to identify (with juvenile plumages, worn adults, and many species off their breeding grounds), we managed to identify quite a few. We discussed field marks, behaviors, and life histories of these birds, bringing us back to the fact that North Star is a critical site for birds. Join us on Wednesday for an evening Hummingbird Study!